You’re a long time working. And it makes up a huge part of what we know as normal life. But that doesn’t always mean that we either get used to it or even like it. But you have to remember, you could be working up to fifty years! So if you’re going to have to spend over half of your life doing something, don’t you want to make sure that you enjoy it?
Not everyone will get to chose their profession. Some fall into a certain career, and others just don’t have the motivation to make a change. But, if you’ve always wanted more, or to be a bit more in control of your own destiny, the life of an entrepreneur could be for you?
If just the idea of being your own boss makes you excited, then you’re going to want to take the plunge. But before you make any rash decisions, let’s take a look at some of the things you should be thinking about first.
Do You Have The Drive?
PictureAlthough the idea of being your own boss can be a big draw to a lot of people, it’s not an easy step to make. Okay, so physically leaving employment to enter self-employment is a move that can be quite swiftly made, but it’s the actual mental side of things that is tough. Going from a safe and secure position with guaranteed income and even great benefits, to potentially none of that can be quite scary. So you need to have drive.
Wanting to be in business for yourself isn’t enough. You need to have the drive to push yourself forwards and keep yourself afloat when times to get. Because they will. This is why ambition is more important than talent. You could have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t have the drive to make something a success, it won’t happen on its own.
Or An Idea?
However, you can’t just be raring to go and still see success. You do need to have that key idea to get yourself going. Sometimes, you need a couple. If you’re looking to set up a business, it’s not always guaranteed to work. And this is something that you have to be okay with. You also need to know that you’re going to be able to think up ideas for your startup as and when they’re needed.
But they have to be more than just pipe dreams. They have to be real, solid ideas that are likely to be a success. Above all else, they have to appeal to an audience. Because a business can only be a success if there’s someone out there willing to buy what’s on offer, whether that’s a product or a service. So it’s crucial that your idea meets a need.
What’s Your Current Financial Situation Like?
Maybe the reason you want to get into business for yourself is for financial freedom? Do you want to be rich, or at least comfortable? Then being an entrepreneur can certainly make that happen for you if you’re willing to work at it. But don’t get ahead of yourself. You also have to think about your current situation too, especially financially.
Do you have savings that will see you through a period where you may be investing a lot but not generating any income at all? Do you have debts? Whether you have savings or need installment loans to see you through, you have to be really honest with yourself. Because going into business is a big financial risk, and you really need money behind you as a safety net to get you started.
Are You A Self-Starter?
Question number four: what’s your motivation like? You might be driven to make something out of yourself, but if you lack motivation to actually see something through, you may struggle. Being a self-starter is a huge part of being a business owner. Whether you sell a consulting service or you want to be a serial entrepreneur, you need to be able to push yourself to get the work done.
Working for yourself comes with a lot of freedom, it’s often a huge selling point to people that want to be in business for themselves. But with that freedom comes a lot of incentive to slack off. Because you’re only accountable to yourself. That’s where self-motivation comes in. You absolutely have to have it as a business owner if you want any chance of making some money.
Do You Have Family To Support?
Now, you’re going to want to think about your current situation once again, not just in terms of finance, but your responsibilities too. Do you support anyone? If you’re the main bread winner and you have bills to pay as well as mouths to feed, is leaving your job to take a big risk and start out on your own such a good idea? Right now, at least?
This doesn’t mean that you have to put your dreams on hold, just that you should go a different way about doing them. Instead of quitting your job and trying to make it work without a stable income, you might like to think about starting a side business while working full-time. That way, you can still support your family and as your business starts to take off, you can comfortably leave your job knowing your venture will be a success.
What About Business Experience?
Okay, so at this point, if you’re completely sold on getting started, you’re going to want to think about the tools you need to make this a success. Some people make a leap and see success without really thinking about how they’re going to make it happen, but they’re certainly in the minority. If you really want to make things work, you need to look at what you’ve got going for you to ensure that happens.
It is entirely possible to start a business with no previous experience, especially if you want it enough. But it’s also likely that you do have some skills and experience that you can put into what you’re trying to do, so be sure to really consider how you as a person can make this work.
Or Are You Willing To Learn?
If you’re worried that you perhaps can’t make things work on your own, as you are now, but you’re definitely interested in giving this a go at some point, you may want to consider taking things slowly and preparing yourself until you are ready. Because there’s nothing like feeling your best and ready to take on anything to make a real go of things. And it’s for this reason that you might be open to learning a little more.
Whether it’s reading anything and everything written by the world’s best entrepreneurs, or going back to school and taking a business course, there’s a lot to be said for wanting to better yourself. In fact, some of those entrepreneurs swear by it. They’re always learning and looking to grow, and it it’s something that they’re doing, then it’s likely to be something you should be doing too.
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Where Will You Work From?
Next up, you’re going to want to consider the logistics of things. Because thinking about starting a business then actually doing it are two completely different stories altogether. Alongside having the drive and a killer idea, you also need to know where you’re going to work from. Now, as a store or a manufacturer, you’re going to want to look into possible locations to get setup, as well as the cost that goes with it. But as a freelancer or consultant, then what?
You may think your couch could make the perfect office, but if you’re serious about making this a success, you need a serious office space. Alongside a home office, you might like to consider the different places to work, such as the library or a cafe, or even a coworking space. Because it all matters when you’re ready to get setup.
And How Will You Ensure That You See Success?
And finally, exactly HOW are you planning on making it a success when you go it alone? Whether you are doing something freelance or looking at starting your own business venture, you need to know what you’re going to do and how you’re going to make it work. To be successful in your new business, you need vision, and a lot of that will come from planning.
So now that you’re pretty much convinced that this is what you want to do, and you’re itching to get going, you need to think about starting a business plan. By getting your ideas down on paper, and ensuring that you’ve thought about every single angle of your new venture and you have some key steps to start following, you’re more likely to find the success that you’re so desperately seeking. But remember, you have to keep all of these points in mind if you really want to ensure that you can make it on your own.
This is so useful and inspiring, such a brilliant article! It's definitely made me reflect on where I am and what I've learnt :D xx
ReplyDeleteelizabeth ♡ ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara
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